Alternate interpretation:
"You have two choices... walk on principle, (with no implied outcome) or take your check and go to the bank. The crying is a result of the latter choice."

I had a rant... about the nature of stubbornly defended opinions of the world's inherent corruption, but Cass just illustrated it better.

This man, and others like him, live in a world where morality is the fluff of fools... this is absolute, infallible fact... and the sooner one learns it, the better off they'll be. 100% true.
In their world.
And until proven otherwise, that infallible truth might extend no further than their own craniums. As for "a young thing to say," I used to look down on underexperienced, awkward, idealistic youth as a handicap...
Now, I'm no heavyweight at 25, but I've aged enough to learn that there is irreplacable value to the "young" frame of reference.
The majority of Nobel laureates are credited for discoveries made under the age of 30... presumably, because by the time they get older, they know better.
So often, it seems stupid, idealistic youth is all that holds the world together.